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Misssion accomplished!

Submitted by admin on Fri, 01/05/2018 - 10:47

Ely sixth-grader off to Memphis to deliver over $4,000 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Ely sixth-grader Robert Towley is making a special delivery this week - and taking a special trip.
The 11-year-old will miss a few days of school, but he’ll be completing a mission he began in late-2017, and journeying to Memphis, Tenn. - home of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Robert will be presenting hospital officials Thursday with a check for just over $4,000, the result of a fundraising drive that included a chili feed he hosted last month at the First Lutheran Church.
Declaring that “no kid should ever have cancer,” Robert sought to raise money for St. Jude’s, a pediatric treatment and research facility focused on children’s catastrophic diseases.
With the help of family members and friends, he organized the Dec. 1 chili feed, shaking the hands of most if not all of the roughly 200 people that were served.
Others also donated to Robert’s cause, resulting in a contribution that topped $4,000.
Robert is scheduled to meet hospital officials during a presentation scheduled on the hospital grounds.
The chili feed and fund drive sprung from a visit Robert made to a Duluth hospital two years ago, when his uncle - Chad Meskill - was receiving cancer treatment.
Robert noticed a young girl who was also being treated for cancer, and vowed to do something to help children stricken with the disease.
After some research, Robert settled on supporting St. Jude’s, and his cause has been noticed beyond the community.
Physician Ross Perko, an oncologist who now works in Duluth and hails from Eveleth, has prior experience with St. Jude’s and spoke to Robert the day of his fund-raiser. He congratulated Robert on his efforts and also was instrumental in helping connect him with officials at St. Jude’s.

TALKING WITH oncologist Ross Perko was Ely sixth grader Robert Towley who raised over $4,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Robert will travel to Memphis, TN to make a check presentation this week.